Paul Blackburn’s pinpoint strike at the top right corner of the zone whizzed right past Joc Pederson’s blurred bat, ending a scoreless frame for the Oakland Athletic pitcher. It was an ordinary result in extraordinary circumstances. This wasn’t a middling Giants team the 28 year-old had held down on Tuesday night: it was the National League All-Stars.
“It’s just awesome to see two guys representing their hometown and competing at the highest level in the All-Star Game,” a first-time All-Star in Blackburn, an Antioch, Calif., native said.
After a season of pitching within the relative anonymity the Oakland A’s last-place provide, the right hander probably assumed being named Oakland’s only All-Star would provide some small spotlight. It was well deserved after he compiled a 6-5 record and a 3.62 ERA on an A’s team that enters Thursday’s doubleheader against the Tigers at 32-61.
